We are looking for sales & marketing representatives in different countries. Apply now!

Short Takes:
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minsiter Ehud Barak from the headquarters of the current negotiations (in the USA) between the Syrian and Israeli governments, as Barak informed President Mubarak about the most recent results of the peace process between the two sides in the USA. Go

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa stated that postponing convening the Arab summit is considered a strategic error that harms the Arab states and their interests, saying that there is a general Arab feeling among everybody of the necessity of convening the comprehensive Arab summit for the Arab world's future in this new century. He asserted the importance of working on increasing the joint interest in the shadow of the problems in the Arab states. Go

Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa met yesterday with Daniel Kurtzer, the US ambassador in Cairo, as they exchanged points of view concerning the peace process in the Middle East and the Sudanese issue in light of the most recent developments. Kurtzer said after the meeting that he reviewed with Moussa developments in Sudan in light of the visit Moussa paid to Khartoum on Tuesday and his meeting with Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir, adding that he also tackled positive indicators in the current Palestinian - Israeli negotiations concerning the second redeployment in the West Bank. Go

Yemeni official sources said that Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir will pay an official visit to Sanaa in the second half of January and that El-Bashir will hold discussions with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh regarding bilateral relations and means of boosting them in addition to the new developments in the Arab and regional arenas. Go

Official sources in Algeria said yesterday that the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) has been dissolved after ratifying an agreement between the front's leaders and a delegation from the Algerian Army. The sources also said a delegation from the army met leaders of the AIS in the Jijel area, one of the front's strongholds, yesterday, clarifying that the meeting resulted in reaching an agreement to dissolve the AIS and that the decision was immediately implemented. Go

King Mohammed VI returned to Rabat Wednesday from Errachidia province where he launched several social and development projects and attended the "Night of Destiny," religious wake tuesday night at Rissani. Go

The Jordanian daily al-Arab al-Youm said that contacts are being made between the Palestinian government and the Israeli government and have reached an advanced stage on bringing hundreds of the Fatah movement fighters from Lebanon to the Palestinian self-rule territories. Go

The Palestinian government said yesterday that its seeks to establish a state on all the land Israel occupied in 1967. El Tayeb Abd El Rehim, the secretary general in the Palestinian government, said that this is the Palestinians' desire concerning this matter and that Jerusalem will be capital of this state. Go

The Lebanese government is getting ready to resume negotiations on the Lebanese - Israeli track by preparing files which tackle achieving several Lebanese goals, which have become national necessities concerning the liberation of occupied lands through Israel's unconditional implementation of resolution N 425 and the release of Lebanese detainees in the occupation prisons as well as regaining the Shaba area, which Israel took before 1967. Go

The Arab League expressed its deep relief toward the signed agreement between Sudan and Eritrea, which allows the resumption of normal relations between them. In a statement issued yesterday the AL expressed its confidence in the capability of the two countries' leaders to overcome any obstacles that might obstruct the development of their fraternal relations, hailing the different Arab efforts which paved the way for reaching this agreement, especially those by Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa, emir of Qatar. Go

Iraqi Foreign Minister Muhammad Said al-Sahaf will arrive in Doha today and hold talks dealing with "means of backing bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern," according to news reports in Doha. A diplomatic source in Doha said the Iraqi minister will meet with several Qatari officials during his two-day visit. Go

Kuwait expressed yesterday its absolute refusal to convene any direct meeting with Iraqi officials before the release of Kuwaiti captives. Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Salem al-Sabah said his country opposes any direct meeting with the Iraqis before the release of Kuwaiti captives or a portion of them, saying that Baghdad must prove its good intent in the captives case first and what concerns the invitation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh for Kuwait and Iraq to establish a direct discussion concerning the suspended issues between them. Go

The second National Women's Solidarity Forum will be held this January 13-21 in Casablanca on "Rural women as a partner for development and the struggle against poverty." Held by the department of social protection, family and childhood, the event will give to cooperatives and associations from various Moroccan regions a space to display their products and experience. Go

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has asserted that he enjoys good health following back surgery he underwent at the end of December in the USA. He said he will come back to his country following the Eid al-Fitr vacation. Go

55 of 82 contracts for the sale of Iraqi oil within the oil-for-food program had been approved by December 21, 1999, Fred Eckhard, the spokesman for the United Nations secretary general, said yesterday. He added that revenues thus far in the seventh phase of the program have reached $742 million. Go

Omani Health Minister Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa received a communique from Syrian Health Minister Mohammed Ayad al-Shatti on strengthening bilateral cooperation in health, Oman News Agency reported. Go

Bahrain started imposing strict standards on cigarette imports as of the start of this year covering levels of nicotine and tar contained in the cigarettes, as well as the amount of carbon monoxide they give off, Gulf Daily News reported. Go

Palestinian radio said that the first Russian civil airplane landed yesterday evening at Gaza International Airport with 150 Russian tourists on board on their way to the city of Bethlehem to participate in the celebrations of the third millennium for the nativity which will end tomorrow evening, saying the Russian airline is to conduct one trip weekly to Gaza, to be increased to two trips later on. Go